washka – Ghost Town

[washka]

Let's start this one with some old sketch I did three years ago.
You can help me by choosing three ghost from those.
http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/3774/ghostbywashka.jpg
There won't be a lot of colors for this one, dark and gloooomy!

[shanmatte30]

Hi Washka....nice start...

[CHAO5]

hi mate.... i like 3, 9, and 11. looks a nice start so keep working
cheers

[washka]

Thanks for comments guys, so:
2:+1
3:+1
6:+1
8:+1
9:+1
11:+1
Still need some more opinion about which ghost, feel free to vote.
Here is my actual work and some color/layout test:

[dark-blast]

hi nice start! I choose ghost no. 3

[VinsanityV20]

Dude; I love the atmosphering you're setting up. It's really weird, and very spooky:) I also like the literal appreciation for the term, "Ghost Town". That's inspired bro.

Anyway, ghost votes: I like
no.5
no.10
no.8
no.2

Those guys definitely stand out to me. All of 'em have character though - you've got quite a style! Keep it up man - wanna see ya at the finish line!

[washka]

Thanks, dark-blast and VinsanityV20 for comm's, your ghost vote will help me a lot for the selection.
A friend of me voted (3,5 and 10)
So with your votes now we've got:
2:+2
3:+3
5:+2
6:+1
8:+2
9:+1
10:+2
11:+1
Now voting time is finished, number 3 ghost is THE winner followed by 2-5-8-10 second ones, and the third category ones are 6-9-11.
In fact I need 7 ghost so numbers 3,2,5,8,10,6,11 are now choosen! Yiiihaa!
Thanks for participating in this inner competition with no prizes but a lot of fun and more soon.

VinsanityV20, litteral is fitting, but from now there will be two images: one with the 7 ghosts (black and white and some little color touch, it'll be a "funny" one), and the second one will my colors work. This last one is even more litteral because the city itself is a ghost. WOoOoo!

About the WIP, so here's the color construction of the landscape, my perspective correction...
In fact this perspective correction was a big lost of time because I didn't liked the result of "the good perspective one", so I restarted my work from an older "wrong perspective one" that I tried to correct a bit. I'm stupid I should have started my work with perspective lines. You can even beat me for that!
The last one is my actual colors one, I'm sure I'll continue to details on this one and add some stuuf but I won't touch/change more the global composition again. I decided to fix it (the composition) with fast hard glue and chains, yeah!
No! Don't even think about it! Maybe I should add some random undisable frozing traps...Just in case.

http://img709.imageshack.us/img709/9608/wipghostcitycolorsbywas.jpg

[chris_solo]

hey washka! :)
nice progress, I like the work of composition and colors, including shades of grass. You feel the traditional technique of painting. I look forward to the ghosts...

[washka]

Thanks for comm's chris_solo!
Yes, that's the way I wanted to do it, "kinda traditional", just two brushes and lot's of colors.
Hey man, what's up? I'm sad you're not onto the comp' I feel a bit lonely here :), (just like a ghost), so where have you been lonely soldier?

Here are some more WIP, color test, details, seems it's nicely going to some underwater mood, but nothing fixed yet. Now we're entering last stage, the final blast off!

[chris_solo]

Thanks for comm's chris_solo!
Yes, that's the way I wanted to do it, "kinda traditional", just two brushes and lot's of colors.
Hey man, what's up? I'm sad you're not onto the comp' I feel a bit lonely here :), (just like a ghost), so where have you been lonely soldier?

;) hahaha!! I think trying to make beautiful things ... I look...others, I invent future ideas.
I participate in a mini challenge on Gameartisans, but I'm not going to end ... compete with the top end of the sculptors gave no chance for worms like me :(
anyway I finished my model but I don't present for the final.
so I look at the competition here on the challenge game character is really successful, projects are really interesting!!

see you washka

[washka]

Good ideas can help you to make beautifull things. You've just given me one.
It's hard to compete against pro, and they're quite good on gameartisans...
Some sick monsters there. o_O
But, I like this attitude, and hey, that's how you can improve, no? I'll go look at your thread. :)
So the game character challenge is good? I've missed that, I'll go look for it too.
By the way, do you think there will be a dominance war this year?
[Edit]
Just been to GA, I don't know your nickname there, and I've seen DWV is coming soon!
Ooooh yeaaah!
Hey chris_solo Will you be on "da big war comp"?
If you are, I hope we'll be in the same "first line pushing squad", maybe I could watch your back, and we would kill them all, even da big masters! :D
Just another idea.

[chris_solo]

On the thread of Warlock, I discussed with him and apparently there will be a fifth and final edition!! I'm in, it will be in the same team ;) I think...., unless if I go to GA...
it will still take pleasure!!! hmm what do you think bunny :D ?
(for info, I have the same avatar on GA but with the name jeronimo! ;)

[washka]

Just cleaning and some details for the ghosts...
Can't upload .png, that's sooo sad.

[washka]

So, I had some interesting idea, and I'll try something else while I still got some more time. Maybe I won't finish what I wanted to do, but I can't waste VinsanityV20's interesting ghost mood reference stuff, I got too much inspiration from it. Photos comes from michaeljohngrist (http://www.michaeljohngrist.com)
There will be 4 evolutive steps using reference photos I've already choosen, then maybe one ore more detailing/fix steps.
I'll try to post those steps each 2-3 hours, black and white.
Here's the first step, this thing is a city:

[washka]

Ok, second step, I was quick on this one, but missing details, I'll just use more time for polishing, here are ref photos from same site, and how turned my speed, need to make some corrections on background:

[WhiteGuardian]

You have really great sketch and planning for your entry. I think you don't need any critic right now. Just wanna say good luck and hope you can finish your entry. :)

[washka]

We will see if I can, I've been sleeping a bit and I'm going to details right now after some coffee. Third step soon, trying to get some more contrast and details on it.
Hey you know critics are always welcome here, even negatives ones.
Which one do you prefer, and why? Are they some mistakes? Some critics about lightning, perspective or colors. My composition suck, and I should change it...My concept is not strong enough, I should work it more...
I always need critics :), but thanks for the nice comment WhiteGuardian.
Good luck for the judging part!

[chris_solo]

really good idea!! composition and perspective is good!
I think that there could only finish, detail and color development!
so >> go, go, go blue rabbit! :)

[washka]

Yes chris_solo, the big work now, but I'm on it, some hours left and it's over. You're pushing me and that's really nice, I hope I won't disapoint you. Thanks for support!
I just worked a bit onto the other image, the colors one, wanted to empty my head from actual work. The jpg compression hurt!
I'm not sure I should keep the one with trash colors and black columns (Yes, I've been tempt by the "dark side"), or the first one...?
Want some empty feeling there, maybe "dark", I dont know...

[washka]

Others steps are finished, now I need to block and more details/lightning/corrections.
Don't know if I go on some kind of broken windows view or I just let two side parts, maybe da broken window:

[chris_solo]

choice two for me.

[washka]

Right choice man!
I'm onto the leaves atm, then I'll work onto the stairs and background house, don't know if I'll let flat left black or no... Seem I'll because I also need to finish my color work, I had some nice idea to finish it, 1 hour left, and WIPS, aouuuch!

[washka]

Ok, I've finished upper leaves, some lack of details on the little ones but... Now I really need to go onto the background stairs house for this one.
If you're passing by, need some comments about last color work, the last two "underwater" style ones I've posted yesterday. Wich one do you prefer? C&c are welcome, maybe I'll replace black columns by spirits columns and go vertical.
Last run, keep it up guys!

[shanmatte30]

good job washka...!
thz view realy nice. also thz window view tells something....

[washka]

Thanks a lot shanmatte30. Your painting also tells a story, and I think that even if technically your painting for armageddon's comp was kinda better, I'm more feeling da story inside your new last one for ghostcity. :) What do you think about it?
I had to rush to finish this last one, but It was worth of it. In fact I started it yesterday.(Leaves killed my time, I even wanted to work them more...)
Thanks all for the support (especially chris_solo) and for your participation, it was a lot of fun, a lot of interesting entries for this comp' (again), I must admit that the subject was quite interesting.
Hey you know what? I could'nt finish my third entry... :) The seven cartoon ghosts one. Was kinda replaced by "The window", I'll finish it later!
Here are my two finals and WIP:
For the "Colors" one:
The abandoned city itself is a "disapearing" ghost, wanted to practice my colors mixing/layout and keep it simple, I could have gone further to an underwater mood but this last one was kinda a suprise for me, it came from itself:
http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/8837/wipcolors.jpg
http://img688.imageshack.us/img688/4569/colorsbywashka.jpg
And for "The window" one:
Photos inspiration and speedpainting, can you see the rat, and the lost soul?
http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/5580/wipwg.jpg
http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/3174/ghostcitybywashka.jpg
Comments and critics are still welcome.